Prior issues of Mission Critical, including the January/February 2014 issue, make it clear that energy efficiency and conservation and other energy topics in data centers involving cooling are hot. From my perspective as an attorney who has been involved in hundreds of energy conservation projects, projects are primarily approached from a technical and engineering viewpoint, but it is worthwhile to keep in mind that each project involves legal considerations and tasks.
Data centers and other mission critical facilities purchase large amounts of energy commodities from electric and gas distribution utilities. Inaccurate high metering or an inappropriate service classification can significantly increase a facility’s costs. Complaining to the utility and, if necessary, to a state agency for relief, however, can be a long and difficult process.